Bahl said the blessing is done in coordination with the Feast of the Guardian Angel.

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T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTERFather Greg Bahl of St. Mary’s Catholic Church blesses a cat held by Bethany Jablonski during the annual blessing of the pets outside St. Francis School Thursday. Several dogs and cats and even two rats were blessed at the event.

T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW POTTERFather Greg Bahl of St. Mary’s Catholic Church blesses Trudy, a dog held by Rachel Jacobs Thursday as part of the annual blessing of the pets outside St. Francis School.

“It’s a recognition that God blesses in ways we can see like pets and in ways we can’t see like guardian angels,” Bahl said. “It’s something different.”

Angie Christensen brought her children as well as Sunny, the fluffy family cat.

“[Sunny] is really a part of the family,” Christensen said.

She said her son Nile, 9, was excited to see the cat come to the event.